First Ever for GardensGrow - Page 8

crackbaby · #71 07-07-2008, 05:06 PM

Nice grow so far GG! I would lower the light a bit and see how they respond.

GardensGrow · #72 07-07-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceestyle

This is unnecessary, and you risk damaging the tender taproot. They will right themselves and unfold as they break the surface.

The upside down one had grown the taproot all the way to the top of the soil and had just started to curve back down once it "realized" that it was going towards the light. I'm not sure the seed would have been able to provide enough energy for the taproot to reach back down into the peat and pull the cotyledons to the top; that's why I decided to flip. But you may be right and I guess we'll see how careful I was

Quote:

Originally Posted by labey87

keep the cfl between 2 and 4 inches away. thats the best place for cfls

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceestyle

How many watts is the bulb? In any case, you can move it closer if you like, say 6".

Quote:

Originally Posted by crackbaby

Nice grow so far GG! I would lower the light a bit and see how they respond.

Thanks cbaby. The bulb is a small 15 watts. I didn't want to burn them but it looks like I could have gone higher. I will lower it like you all are suggesting and keep an eye on the temps.

ceestyle · #73 07-07-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardensGrow

The upside down one had grown the taproot all the way to the top of the soil and had just started to curve back down once it "realized" that it was going towards the light. I'm not sure the seed would have been able to provide enough energy for the taproot to reach back down into the peat and pull the cotyledons to the top; that's why I decided to flip. But you may be right and I guess we'll see how careful I was

Interesting. I have never heard of such a thing. Seeds know which way to grow independent of light. Fucked up genetics or something!

GardensGrow · #74 07-08-2008, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceestyle

Interesting. I have never heard of such a thing. Seeds know which way to grow independent of light. Fucked up genetics or something!

Yea maybe I shouldn't be trying to save this one if it doesn't even know which way is up haha

jayzero · #75 07-08-2008, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceestyle

Interesting. I have never heard of such a thing. Seeds know which way to grow independent of light. Fucked up genetics or something!

This is true of all plants - and not just of roots, but of stems too (but the other way around). It's called gravitropism, and simply means that roots will always grow towards the pull of gravity and that stems will grow up away from the pull of gravity. If you tip a straight plant on an angle, the new growth at the stalk will bend upwards, away from gravity, and the taproot will adjust to start going straight down again. Leaves will show phototropism - they grow towards light, but the structural bits of the plant have to consider gravity or they risk growing chaotically such that they topple themselves over.

Check it out : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitropism

edit: actually, I just read everything above again and I think I misinterpreted - I was thinking that the taproot came out of the top *while* it was upside-down, not before. If the taproot came out of the top of the soil normally then it could just be the case that the seed was planted quite shallow and upsidedown (pointy side of the seed up) - then the taproot has no choice but to go up to get out of the seed, but it immediately turns itself around as it grows out. If it's too close to the top and the seed is upside-down, then sometimes the root can pop out and turn around. The plant should still be fine, though - everything on the seed-side of that loop will eventually emerge and become stem/cotyledon, everything on the other side goes down and stays as root.

RaulFarquhar · #76 07-08-2008, 08:32 AM

I placed my seedlings as soon as they sprouted directly under my 400 watt MH and had no stretching. I placed my light about 24 inches above the sprouts. Since your light is vented and you have a lens between the bulb and the plants, you are not going to burn them. As long as you keep the temps below 90F at the tops of the sprouts they should do very well.

I would suggest still keeping your unsprouted plants in the dome the way you have them though.

GardensGrow · #77 07-08-2008, 06:22 PM

jayzero thank you for that bit of knowledge. You're "edit comment" is correct. I think I planted the seed upside down. Though the taproot never actually broke the soil; it got close and was starting to turn back down.

Raul I think I'm going to do something similar. My fourth seed is coming up (no signs of the fifth) so I'm going to take my now super-leggy 3 and place them in pots and then put those pots under the MH. This way I can use the soil to support the stalks and keep the top bit of seedling above ground and no one will no the difference. (not that anyone else sees these lol)

GardensGrow · #78 07-10-2008, 03:39 AM

The 3 stretchers have now been placed in 6" pots (buried their stems for support) and are happy establishing their root system under the MH light (which is about 2 feet above the pots). The 4th seed popped and is developing well but slowly. Once I see a few more roots coming out the side of the 4th's peat pellet I will transfer it to a 6" pot as well.

Thanks everyone for the support so far. Questions/comments?

crackbaby · #79 07-10-2008, 06:10 AM

looking good GG!

RaulFarquhar · #80 07-10-2008, 11:35 AM

Excellent move there GG!

Your stretch is a thing of the past! You will be amazed at how fast your seedlings will grow now. The roots from your seedlings will be curling around the bottom of those cups in less than a week.